Loft Law Causing Headaches for Some
The NY Times looks at the struggle tenants are going through to apply for the recently-passed loft protection law that extends residential rights to those living in illegal lofts. Residents at 360 Jefferson were kicked out after applying for protection, only to return to a bricked-over fire escape, no hot water, and shower drains full…
The NY Times looks at the struggle tenants are going through to apply for the recently-passed loft protection law that extends residential rights to those living in illegal lofts. Residents at 360 Jefferson were kicked out after applying for protection, only to return to a bricked-over fire escape, no hot water, and shower drains full of concrete. (Bushwick BK covered this a few days ago.) The landlord claimed they were renting the units out as work spaces and that the showers were built illegally. The battle reveals the limbo – and shaky legal grounds – tenants find themselves in when applying for protection. 32 applications have been submitted to the Loft Board so far, and while some landlords are discouraging their tenants, others have applied for protection themselves.
Seeking Protection, Loft Tenants Instead Find Grief [NY Times]
Photo by elegyofgreenwood
ishtar — absolutely! Light manufacturing spaces are REALLY hard to come by and the prices can be as high as retail spaces. A friend of mine was looking for a 1500-1700 sq ft workshop space (ground floor with a “high bay door” or upper floor with large freight elevator). Look all over… western queens, sunset park, red hook, greenpoint, bushwick, etc.
It wouldn’t have worked for his business to be too far from the clients — so East New York, Bay Ridge and Canarsie wouldn’t fly. Bushwick is even a bit of a haul.
Long story short, he’s paying waaaay too much in “east williamsburg” and is spending money on rent instead of an additional assistant, equipment and so on.
What’s being manufactured anyway??? Craft beers???
Then you get the complaints from residents in an industrial zoned area that it’s too noisy or smelly.
“The loft law has taken over fifty buildings off the table for manufacturing.”
While manufacturing isn’t as big as it used to be in this city, does this create a scarcity issue and drive up the cost of space for existing manufacturers?
“The landlord claimed they were renting the units out as work spaces and that the showers were built illegally.”
bullshit!!
I have to say, while I wish I had a career that let me use some different aspects of my creativity… I’m glad I don’t have a career that requires a live/work space (at a reasonable price). I have several friends that have dealt with this crap… for years. The ‘fully legal’ live/work spaces in this city are the same per sq ft costs as a regular apartment — sometimes more!
I don’t have a lot of sympathy for the flaky “struggling artist” (or craftsman), but when the costs for spaces in the city don’t even makes sense in the context of a well-formed business plan…
Well, that’s why 7th Avenue in Park Slop has dozens of shuttered retail spaces… the NYC disease.
Old school gangsta, BHO….”The landlords, Mario and Maritza…”
“after applying for protection, only to return to a bricked-over fire escape, no hot water, and shower drains full of concrete”
LMAO! Gangsta.
***Bid half off peak comps***
Loft living is so romantic.
This will be an effing mess for years, as it was in manhattan. And i refer all readers to the discussion of the hotel property at 80 Wythe yesterday. The loft law has taken over fifty buildings off the table for manufacturing. THIS is the best take down, not some fancy site in central Willie. Take note….